Tante Zoe’s

I’ll prefix this by saying that I ate here with a Hi-​Life card (buy one meal get one free), which made the whole experience more enjoyable, well, tolerable.
Tante Zoe’s is weird. Really weird. It’s suffering from some sort of personality crisis and it really isn’t a relaxing/​enjoyable environment to be in.
I’ll get the positives out of the way first: the food was really tasty. Between the two of us we tried a gumbo and a jambalaya, both including chicken, pork, and smoked chorizo. Portions were huge, flavours were good, and the chunk of cornbread was a nice accompaniment. Yep, this stuff was pretty tasty.
However, everything else about the place just lacked something. The décor doesn’t represent the menu whatsoever — a real mishmash of bistro/​café/​generic framed «French» posters with random African tribal sculptures and god knows what else — odd.
Prices: ASTRONOMICAL considering what you’re getting. My jambalaya (a really simple, SIMPLE) dish would have come to twenty quid if we didn’t have the Hi-​Life card — a tenner was only just about a justifiable price.
Atmosphere: uncomfortable — we were the only ones there (it was a tuesday, but that surely a place in temple bar shouldn’t be totally empty?) and they sat us next to a huge mirror so every time I looked up I could see how creepily empty the rest of the place was behind me!
Service: pretty haphazard (especially seeing as we were the only ones there), the waiter didn’t seem too clued up, didn’t ask how are meals were, took quarter of an hour to bring the bill to the only customers etc.
FINALLY, in a restaurant with prices as high as this, when I order a Coke I really don’t expect to be brought a can with the yellow «multipack can — not to be sold separately» strip on it, and then to be charged three quid for it! Shameless!
Food was good, but I think if there were any other half-​decent cajun restaurants in town (I think the sort of food would go well with the cheap and cheerful crackbird/jo’burger vibe — Joe Macken are you listening?!) then I think Tante Zoe’s would go out of business within a week.

The food wasn’t bad, and I did only eat off the early bird menu, but I’m not so sure this is worth the price.
For the first course I split the ribs and the gumbo. The ribs did not slide off the bone as described, and weren’t all that good to begin with. The gumbo was the better of the two, but mostly cause the ribs were so mediocre. For the main I had the Rissoles. The red beans made up for the unspectacular meat, and since I love all cornbread, it was good to me.
I’m willing to come back and try the Jambalaya; not because I expect it to be amazing, but because sadly it’s probably the best cajun food in Ireland.

Went to Tante Zoe’s last night for dinner. From the looks of the outside signage I was expecting a dive-​y sort of place. I know it sounds weird but I was disappointed at how nice it was. Why doesn’t Dublin have many dive restaurants and bars? That’s a rant for another time.
I guess the décor was elegant, even if I wasn’t looking for elegant. The prices were rather ‘elegant’ to match at around € 14 – 20 per person for dinner a la carte. I also ordered a mojito, which rang in at a whopping € 9.
In fairness, the food was as hearty and spicy, which I enjoyed. Hubs loved his dooky (poop joke ha ha ha) gumbo. I ordered the shrimp starter and a side of heavenly macaroni cheese. The shrimp was sold out so I got the calamari, which was decent. Even with good food and excellent service, the restaurant wasn’t what I was hoping for.
The ambiance was wrong and probably the reason I wont return. In my mind, a restaurant themed on the American south should feel lived-​in, homey, welcoming, and comfortable. ‘Southern hospitality’ right? This place is too uptight and fancy. If you are nearby within the early bird hours, it might be worth a try.

This may be the first time I have ever had spicy food in Dublin at a restaurant. Which, for an American, is super exciting!
I got gumbo while my friend got jambalaya and we were not sure what the difference was other than presentation and maybe the sauce. Everything I have been told about gumbo points to that it was supposed to be more liquidity than what I got, but it was delicious nevertheless! We started with the cheese log which I highly recommend.
We got a pitcher of Sangria which was also great.
Cornbread. I didn’t realize how much I missed it or how good it is until I was here.
Service was on top of everything! They kept refreshing our water pitcher and empty places never sat in front of us for long.

This place is a hidden gem!!! I was well impressed with this Templebar restaurant! :)
Starters = ribs that melted in my mouth :)
Main = damn good meat burger (I am a pickle person so please chef put it in the burger)
Dessert = inch around the waste — why?? because I licked the plate!!!
Service = A+

On our first day in Dublin, we noticed Tante Zoe’s, while walking around Temple Bar. Since I grew up in Louisiana, I had to stop to peruse the menu. I was stunned to see gumbo for dinner for 17 euro! Two weeks later, I noticed they had a lunchtime special closer to 8. Curiosity got the better of me and I had to try a their sausage gumbo.
It pains me to only give them 3 stars, as their 5-​star service was some of the most memorable & pleasant I’d had while visiting the city. The waiter and the manager were engaging and friendly and generally lovely. Sadly, the food was only maybe 2 stars — the gumbo was just not what I was hoping. I’m just relieved lunch turned out cheap.

It’s been a while (a long while since I last had a meal on Tante Zoes so I ventured in on Sat with 3 others in anticipation of a good meal and boy we weren’t disappointed. Suffice to say the cajun/​louisiana cuisine was well cooked & presented and they serve the best mojito I’ve had to date in Dublin. Not the most reasonable joint but for a special ocassion or a group ocassion then this place is bang on, just of the main Temple Bar Drag and Dame Street the location is spot on as a starting off point. Staff are friendly and I’m glad to say our server was from Cork with a great banter. 3 courses, bottle of wine and cocktails x 4 came to € 173.00 (not incl. tip) The key lime pie was a definate winner with all 4 as was the ice cream. The only thing I felt let the place down were the toilets –0shabby and in need of a good clean (dirty grout, grubby doors etc). It’s a pity as the restaurant is very nicely decorated and dimly lit adding a lovely ambience.

i usually write epically long reviews but this one just needs a simple one:
great food, way too posh for a cajun place

Finding a restaurant that serves Cajun/​Creole food in Dublin was a huge surprise– unfortunately so were the prices they charge for their food. But I figured it’d be worth it as a treat… and boy, was it worth it!
I like spicy food so I had the garlic and chilli prawns as a starter, which were delicious and hot (!) and then had a real problem trying to decide what to have as a main course but eventually decided to go for Jambalaya– the Lou-​Lou Mae– and had a hard time finishing it because there was a lot of it… but again, it was delicious. I was too stuffed for dessert but the two courses came to just over 30 Euro. Like I said, great as a treat!

Quite a good place for getting some food that’s a bit different from the run of the mill. The menu is mostly cajun but some things aren’t too scary for the unadventurous. However you might as well try something new since you’re here.
I’ve been here with groups and few times and so had chance to try lots of things (stealing off other people’s plates!!)… so now I know what shark tastes like! Certainly worth a visit for a foodie. Generally the food and service are relatively good, but the place might be a little too pricey for a regular haunt.

If you’re going to experiment with ragin’ cajun cuisine in the middle of Dublin, it’s all going to be about Jambalaya-​and this place makes a solidly good one. The calamari appetizer was good-​not-​great, but the shrimp starter was dee-​lish-​us, so I highly recommend ordering two and skipping the squid. My dining companion has the ostrich steak-​exotic and tasty but a tad over priced. And I’m pretty sure it wasn’t from a real bayou-​bred ostrich.
Probably the best part of the meal was the PUNCH, a sangria-​esque concoction that comes by the pitcher and is probably the best drink deal I’ve seen along the €/​IV (Euro-​to-​intoxication-​velocity) continuum.
Our server was extremely friendly, without being intrusive, and being from London’s East End she continued my streak of NOT ONCE having a local irish server in a restaurant in Dublin.
There were just a couple missteps that cost stars. The place is apparently in receivership, so the beers and liquors listed on the menu had only passing connection to the beers an liquors actually available. Granted, the server handled it well and with humor. But still…
And she forgot our coffee. The place was far from hopping, so I would have thought she had plenty of time. Another clue was the really nicely arranged sugar and creamer platter that she first brought out. Sadly, no java followed. I was reduced to sandeman port (not really my favorite but meh…) and watching one of my companions glance longingly at the sugar and cream, ever hopeful for something to put them in.
The desert were definitely worhwhile, but they change regularly so go often. In fact, a shared jambalaya, a split desert and a pitcher of punch would be a very nice, reasonably priced meal for starting a night out on the town, especially if you’re trying to avoid pub food and are sick of curry.
Bottom Line: This is a solidly good eatery in the Temple Bar, just off Dame Street.

Strolling down the street I never thought I would come upon a Cajun-​Creole restaurant in the heart of Dublin, but lo and behold: Tante Zoe’s!
The restaurant is relatively large and serves food traditionally associated with slaves in the deep south of the United States. Gumbos, jambalaya (a paella-​like rice dish) and other typical Cajun dishes are represented as well as delish items like blackened chicken and shrimp creole. A few not so ordinary items are also available, such as venison, duck or even ostrich!
This would be a good place to go for a special occasion or a party because the food is so unique in the city and really good. It is also on the upper end of my budget, so I can’t go there for dinner very often however, they also do a «credit crunch lunch» where they offer some menu items for 8.50 each. Not bad in these recession times.
Tante Zoe’s really is something special here in Dublin and it is definitely something that people will keep talking about after they’ve left.

I Love this restaurant. I ate here recently with 2 friends and it is definitely one of my new favourite restaurant in the city.
We had a selection of dishes and each one was just as nice as the other. I thought the quality of the food and wine for the price we paid was fabulous. There was a great buzz in the place that Friday evening and I would definitely go back with friends.
I would highly recommend this restaurant for an intimate dinner or dinner with friends.

Tante Zoe’s ist ein gaanz kleiner Laden mitten in Temple Bar, der mit seinem authentischen kreolischen Essen bezaubert.
Temple-​Bar, sonst verschrien als Hochburg der Junggesellen/​-​innen Abschiede, hat auch kleine kulinarische Perlen zu bieten und Tante Zoe’s ist eines der best-​behütesten Geheimnisse.
Das Restaurant ist klein, etwas dunkel aber sehr edel. Eine Reservierung einige Tage im Voraus (besonder für das Wochenende) sind sehr geraten, denn die Kapazitäten sind enorm begrenzt.
Die Preise sind sogar für irische Verhältnisse monströs, aber man erhält für sein Geld eine Menge:
— guten, freundlichen, nicht aufdringlichen Service
— eine — für irische Verhältnisse — sehr erlesene Weinkarte
— ein feuriges Menü mit leckerer Dessert-​Karte
Ich hatte wundervollen Abend dort mit einer Runde Freundinnen, der leider nur durch die Rechnung von mehreren hundert Eure für 3 Weinflaschen, Apero, Menü und Dessert mit Kaffee etwas getrübt wurde.
Jedoch: wer in der etwas einheitlichen Dubliner Gastronomie eine richtige Gaumenfreunde erleben will, sollte ins Tante Zoe’s gehen.